A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: The Zodiac - Finished

The Zodiac hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

I have completed this challenge with all but one task done. Luckily there is just points per task so I just lost 0.5 point

Challenge runs from February 1-April 31

Points:
.50 for Each Sign
1 point for the Your Sign Task 
 
The word Zodiac literally means animals and refers to the patterns or configurations of creatures as seen in the twinkling stars at night. The Zodiac belt is the great circle around which our luminescent Sun apparently moves month by month throughout the year, transceiving the energy of those different constellational signs and thereby transmitting the celestial radiations to our Earth.

Aries:The Ram
Read a book that has a horned animal on its cover, or a book with Two animals on its cover.
Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong(horned animal on cover)

Taurus:The Bull
Read a book that takes place in Spain or has cattle on its cover.

Gemini:The Twins
Read a book that contains twins or features only two people on its cover.
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness (twins are born)

Cancer:The Crab
Read a book with shell fish on its cover, or the Ocean on its cover.

Cora's Heart by Rachael Herron (Ocean on cover)

Leo:The Lion
Read a book with a lion or cat on its cover, or a book that takes place in Africa.
Witching on a Star by Amanda M. Lee (cat on cover)

Virgo:The Virgin
Read a YA book, or a book that has a lone young woman in its cover.
A French Girl in New York by Anna Adams (YA)

Libra:The Scales
Read a book that takes place in Court or police station, or read a book that has a gold item on its cover.
16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber (MC is a judge)

Scorpio:The Scorpion
Read a book with an insect on its cover, or takes place in Texas.
The Flower Hunter's Cottage by De-ann Black(insects on cover)

Sagittarius:The Centaur
Read a book with a lone man on its cover, or a book with a horse on its cover.
The Liquidator by John Gardner(lone man on cover)

Capricorn:The Goat
Read a book with a bearded person on its cover, or a book that features Mountains.
The Martian by Andy Weir(bearded person)

Aquarius:The Water Bearer
Read a book that features a body of water, or a book that the cover is mostly blue.
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout(water on cover)

Pisces:The Fish
Read a book with fish on its cover, or a book that features a boat on its cover.
A Bag Of Moonshine by Alan Garner (fish on cover)

***Your sign: Find your sign, and read a book that either features the galaxy(Stars, planets) or a book that features a Cake.
THE TEA SHOP: Cakes, Ice Cream & Afternoon Tea by De-ann Black (all about cakes and cakes on the cover) 

A Bag Of Moonshine by Alan Garner

Stunning new CollinsVoyager edition of Alan Garner's collection of folklore. From Goodreads.

22 fairy tales rewritten by Alan Garner. I had of course read a lot of these before from other places but Alan Garner still manages to make the stories interesting.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Barreling Through
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List

THE TEA SHOP: Cakes, Ice Cream & Afternoon Tea by De-ann Black

Jayne's job is to find suitable pop-up shops for businesses looking for temporary premises on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland.
Rich and handsome Brodan McBride, a master baker, becomes one of her new clients and opens a pop-up tea shop selling cakes, ice cream and afternoon tea in one of the busy seaside towns. She also meets Fergus, a gorgeous bespoke tailor who makes Brodan's expensive suits. Jayne's friend and hairdresser, Ceard, isn't sure that she should become romantically involved with either of them.
Although Jayne is attracted to Brodan, is he the man for her? Or is Fergus and his well-cut suits a better fit? Then again, has she been friends with the man who was meant for her all along?
In the busy seaside town, with its lovely little tea shop, gossip, cakes and ice cream, there's only one thing for sure -- Brodan McBride grinds his own nuts. From Goodreads.




Another short, cute romance from De-ann Black. I seem to be returning to her books at the moment when I need something easy, very light and fluffy to read and I like that her books are set in Scotland.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Traveling Hogwarts Style
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Guess Who?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
Spring Into Horror 2015
Dewey's Read-a-Thon April 2015

The Martian by Andy Weir

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—& even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—& a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him? From Goodreads.




This was good. All the technical stuff could easy have made this incredibly boring but it didn't and it was explained in a way so it was understandable. Mark is a very likeable character and I was rooting for him the whole book. There was so many times he nearly got himself killed but he just keep working out a solution. I want to watch the film later this year.  

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass The Parcel
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Student Club Roster
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Guess Who?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly

The Liquidator by John Gardner

Paris, 1944.
As the city is liberated, Sergeant Boysie Oaks kills two Germans attempting to assassinate an Intelligence Corps officer named Mostyn.
Two decades later, the suave, sadistic Mostyn has become the Second-in-Command of British Special Security.
He recruits the man he believes is a master assassin -- Boysie Oakes -- to quietly murder potential security risks.
He is 'The Liquidator'.
But is Boysie the right man for the job?
He is preparing to take Mostyn's secretary to the Cote D'Azur for a weekend of romance.
Yet what starts as a few days of seduction in the Mediterranean sun turns into a nightmare for Boysie as he becomes more and more embroiled in Operation Coronet.
Captured, the tables are turned, and the assassin becomes the target.
Boysie Oakes will need all his wits to stay alive.  From Goodreads.

This was better than I expected. Spy fiction is not a genre I read very often. But this was a lot about Boysie Oakes, the Liquidator, as well. I will not reveal his secret here but it was quite a funny twist. Not bad for a spy novel and it was clear most of the book who were the enemy spies and who were the friendly and it was also humorous.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (2/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter Bingo
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater? 

The Flower Hunter's Cottage by De-ann Black

Mairead is a botanical artist, gardener and quilter. She leases the flower hunter's cottage in the Scottish Highlands. She plans to get away from the city and finish the floral artwork for her new book along with her quilt designs.
As part of the lease agreement she has to take care of the traditional cottage garden while the owner, the flower hunter, is away working abroad, searching for a new species of flower.
Mairead arrives at the cottage in January. After settling in, she meets handsome flower grower, Tavion, and Ethel a knitter who spins and dyes her own yarn. While making new friends, Mairead is keen to get on with her artwork and quilting - and get the garden ready for the spring and summer. Romance isn't on her to-do list, but when it comes to love, nothing goes according to plan.
The Flower Hunter's Cottage is filled with flowers, artwork, knitting, quilting, baking cakes, gardening and romance. From Goodreads.


I enjoy these short, light romances set in Scotland. Nothing bad happens in them and they are just cosy easy reads.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (2/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber

Olivia Lockhart
Cedar Cove, Washington
Dear Reader,
You don't know me yet, but in a few hours that's going to change. You see, I'm inviting you to my home and my town of Cedar Cove because I want you to meet my family, friends and neighbors. Come and hear their stories, maybe even their secrets!
I have to admit that my own secrets are pretty open. My marriage failed some years ago, and I have a rather…difficult relationship with my daughter, Justine. Then there's my mother, Charlotte, who has plenty of opinions and is always willing to share them.
Here's an example. I'm a family court judge and she likes to drop in on my courtroom. Recently I was hearing a divorce petition. In my mother's view, young Cecilia and Ian Randall hadn't tried hard enough to make their marriage work and I actually agreed. So I rendered my judgment: Divorce Denied.
Well, you wouldn't believe the reaction! Thanks to an article by Jack Griffin, the editor of our local paper (and a man I wouldn't mind seeing more of ), everyone's talking.
Cedar Cove people love it and sometimes they leave it, but they never forget it!
See you soon…
Olivia. From Goodreads.

My favourite genres are fantasy and paranormal but I have also come to enjoy this kind of women's fiction. Just every day stuff going on in a small community. This is the first book in the series so there are a lot of characters to figure out and it did take me a wee bit of time before I got them right. There are a lot of loose ends when the book finishes but that is okay and I am looking forward to continue this series. I also liked that not everything had a happy ending as that is a part of life.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (4/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hearts, Romance, Spring Greetings
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.
Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.
Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever. From Goodreads.






Kelley Armstrong is one of my favourite authors and though this is not her Women of the Otherworld series, it is a brilliant fantasy book. It has it all, a dark story, commitment, loyalty, betrayal and creatures that should not exist. I am looking forward to the next instalment, hopefully in April. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: February Challenges (2/5)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Butterbeer Recipe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don't kill him first, that is. From Goodreads.



Katy, the new girl in town, meets her neighbours, Daemon and Dee who turn out to be aliens. It is not safe for them or humans to be friends but of course it happens and now they have to deal with it. They must fight the evil Arum before they steal their powers and kill them all. I will definitely try to get hold of the next one from the library. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: February Challenges (2/5)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Face Off
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Butterbeer Recipe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: To Be A Ravenclaw
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: A Trip To Hogwarts
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Hunger Games
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?
Nothing but Reading Challenges - 50 States Challenge

Witching on a Star by Amanda M. Lee

When you're a witch, being wicked comes naturally. For the Winchester witches, though, being wicked is only half the fun. After a long winter, spring has finally hit Hemlock Cove and Bay Winchester thinks things are finally settling down in the town - and with her family. Unfortunately, just the opposite is true. As a way to distract Aunt Tillie, the Winchester family has decided to give her a new project: Her own greenhouse. As construction starts, though, Bay is approached by a young girl - one she quickly realizes is no longer among the living - and given a task. The litter girl wants her mother - and she wants Bay to find her. If that wasn't bad enough, Bay's boss has brought in a consultant who wants to up The Monitor's production to three times a week, Bay's father and uncles are in the midst of opening their own rival inn - which has the middle generation of Winchester witches in a tizzy (and Aunt Tillie on the warpath) - and FBI agent Landon Michaels is finally embracing the truth about witchcraft. In short order, Bay finds out that there may be more than one ghost in need of help, Landon is still suspicious when it comes to the Winchesters and Aunt Tillie finds she has an unlikely suitor in pursuit of her curmudgeonly affections, which doesn't stop her from cursing the youngest witches in the family when the mood hits. It's just a normal week in Hemlock Cove - that is until the truth about two small ghosts blows sky high and brings a world of trouble to the Winchester witches' doorstep. From Goodreads.

I still like this series but after reading 3 in a very short space of time, they start to seem a bit the same. The author is using the exact same sentences as in previous books. It is still a fun cosy witch series and I will read the last book in the series soon as well.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: February Challenges (2/5)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: A Trip To Hogwarts
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches--with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago. From Goodreads



It has been a while since I read the second book in this series but that was not a problem, I was soon back into it.
Diana and Matthew are still looking for the missing pages of Ashmole 782 but at the same time a lot of other trouble that is all connected is mounting around them. Diana is a strong heroine that will fight with her life to ensure the safety of her family and so will Matthew. This is also necessary when an evil son of Matthew's rears his ugly self and threatens not only Diana but also their children in search of power and revenge.
This is the final book in the series but I would not mind if Deborah Harkness decided to write more as there is a lot of potential with not only Diana and Matthew but also the twins or Gallowglass.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
I love Library books 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: February Challenges (1/5)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Butterbeer Recipe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: A Trip To Hogwarts
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Hunger Games
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Like Big Books Bonus Club
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Clue round 4
Novel Books & Reading Challenges - Baby Got Book

A French Girl in New York by Anna Adams

Maude Laurent is a spirited sixteen year-old orphan who grew up in a small, provincial town in the North of France with a passion for piano and a beautiful voice. One day in Paris, she is discovered by an American music producer who takes her to New York to live with him and his close-knit family while producing her first album, with help from teen pop star, Matt. Maude will dive into a new fascinating world discovering New York City, music, family, love and the truth about her past. From Goodreads.

This is sweet with a happy ending. Maude has to go through a lot to get that happy ending though but she does it with spirit. It is also about betrayal and loss. I will definitely read more from this author.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
What's in a Name 2015
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: February Challenges (2/5)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?

A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: The Zodiac

The Zodiac hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

I forgot to join this challenge but luckily it is not to late.

Challenge runs from February 1-April 31 (re-reads allowed)

Points:
.50 for Each Sign
1 point for the Your Sign Task 
 
The word Zodiac literally means animals and refers to the patterns or configurations of creatures as seen in the twinkling stars at night. The Zodiac belt is the great circle around which our luminescent Sun apparently moves month by month throughout the year, transceiving the energy of those different constellational signs and thereby transmitting the celestial radiations to our Earth.

Aries:The Ram
Read a book that has a horned animal on its cover, or a book with Two animals on its cover.
Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong(horned animal on cover)

Taurus:The Bull
Read a book that takes place in Spain or has cattle on its cover.

Gemini:The Twins
Read a book that contains twins or features only two people on its cover.
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness (twins are born)

Cancer:The Crab
Read a book with shell fish on its cover, or the Ocean on its cover.

Cora's Heart by Rachael Herron (Ocean on cover)

Leo:The Lion
Read a book with a lion or cat on its cover, or a book that takes place in Africa.
Witching on a Star by Amanda M. Lee (cat on cover)

Virgo:The Virgin
Read a YA book, or a book that has a lone young woman in its cover.
A French Girl in New York by Anna Adams (YA)

Libra:The Scales
Read a book that takes place in Court or police station, or read a book that has a gold item on its cover.
16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber (MC is a judge)

Scorpio:The Scorpion
Read a book with an insect on its cover, or takes place in Texas.
The Flower Hunter's Cottage by De-ann Black(insects on cover)

Sagittarius:The Centaur
Read a book with a lone man on its cover, or a book with a horse on its cover.
The Liquidator by John Gardner(lone man on cover)

Capricorn:The Goat
Read a book with a bearded person on its cover, or a book that features Mountains.
The Martian by Andy Weir(bearded person)

Aquarius:The Water Bearer
Read a book that features a body of water, or a book that the cover is mostly blue.
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout(water on cover)

Pisces:The Fish
Read a book with fish on its cover, or a book that features a boat on its cover.
A Bag Of Moonshine by Alan Garner (fish on cover)

***Your sign: Find your sign, and read a book that either features the galaxy(Stars, planets) or a book that features a Cake.
THE TEA SHOP: Cakes, Ice Cream & Afternoon Tea by De-ann Black (all about cakes and cakes on the cover) 

Cora's Heart by Rachael Herron

From bestselling author, Rachael Herron, comes another funny and sexy romcom set in the sleepy Californian coastal town of Cypress Hollow.
Cora has been hurt too many times, and by one man in particular . . . Abandoned by her mother and widowed in her mid-twenties, Cora Sylvan has learned the hard way that you should take nothing in life for granted. So everything is planned out to the last degree – from how to run her farm on a shoestring to how to survive a major earthquake.
Unfortunately, there's nothing in those notes to cover the return of the infuriatingly handsome Mac Wildwood, her husband's cousin, the man she loved and lost. And Mac, it seems, has a secret plan of his own up his sleeve. Cora Sylvan safeguarded everything – but she didn't protect her heart . . .
Fans of Debbie Macomber and Penny Reid will love this trip into Cypress Hollow, and into love. From Goodreads.


This was a sweet, light romance. Cora is struggling after her stock of crafts has burned but then Mac, her husband returns home. She used to love Mac but she married Logan. The end is predictable but the book still had a few surprises which was nice.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: February Challenges (5/5)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: To Be A Ravenclaw
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hearts, Romance, Spring Greetings
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2015